Goers wins Neptune Cup for third straight year

By Manal YousifSpecial to The Tuscaloosa News

Monday

Jun 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM

TUSCALOOSA | Family and friends filled the chairs at NorthRiver Yacht Club on Sunday to watch Reiner Goers’ threepeat, as he defeated Rick Thomason 6-3, 6-1 in the B division singles final at the Neptune Cup men’s tennis tournament.

TUSCALOOSA | Family and friends filled the chairs at NorthRiver Yacht Club on Sunday to watch Reiner Goers’ threepeat, as he defeated Rick Thomason 6-3, 6-1 in the B division singles final at the Neptune Cup men’s tennis tournament.“They should call it the ‘Reiner’s Cup,’ or the ‘International Neptune Cup,’” Goers joked.Goers is a proud native of Germany and appreciates the diversity in the Neptune Cup.“In this year’s tournament I have played against people from Russia, Asia and Europe, which is great for the club,” Goers said.Goers said he was exhausted going into the match.“I had to play three matches yesterday, and these guys here are so good, it is unbelievable,” Goers said.Goers said Thomason gave him a run for his money.“I know Rick and I thought it would be a really good match, because he is a great player,” Goers said.Goers said he has played doubles with Thomason, but this was the first time they competed in singles. Goers maintained the same strategy throughout the tournament, generally not serving first.“I let the guy on the other side serve first and I try to let him win his serve,” Goers said.He explained that this gives his opponent a false sense of confidence.In the first set Sunday, Goers figured out strategies that helped him break Thomason down.“When I served on his backhand, he was running around, so he tried to hit long lines with his forehand, which is not a good idea,” Goers said.Goers added that he would not hit too high, but more straight in the middle, because of the sun beaming in his direction. Goers said this technique worked well because Thomason did not know what to expect.“It feels really good and I am thankful that I made it, because you never know what next year will bring,” Goers said of third straight title.Repeating was a trend Sunday afternoon, as Jody Allen defeated Ed Schnee 6-2, 6-4 in the B division consolation singles final.“It was a great match, and it meant a lot to me because I know a lot of people out here are supporting me. This is where I play tennis,” Allen said.Allen has won the B division consolation singles title two years in a row.Allen said he had a “home-court advantage,” with all the support he got.In the A division doubles final, Mark Hearing and Thomas Gore defeated Kevin Krieger and Cole Altizer 6-2, 6-4.“They are young and there were big serves to contest, but it was a good and competitive match,” Hearing said.This is the first time the twosome has won together, but Gore won the A division doubles last year with Josh Faught.“It felt just as good to win this year as last year. It is a lot of fun to play in this tournament,” Gore said.In the A division singles final, Altizer defeated Kent Gardner 6-1, 6-2.“My wife and I just moved here in July. I started off nervous being in the finals, and the atmosphere is intense,” Altizer said.Tim Rutledge and Wilson Moore defeated Scott Bridges and Al Lewis 6-3, 6-2 in the B division doubles final.Dustin Clary and Thomason defeated Bob Jones and Burke Askew 6-3, 6-3 in the B division consolation final.

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